Kitchen bench

Made this six foot long kitchen bench because I got tired of tripping over chairs and with six kids I often don’t have enough chairs to fit everyone. Goal was to have no visible screws so we used our miter saw to do 45 deg corners on the 1×8’s that make up the sides of the bench. Painted it black because we have room trim in black.

Would have loved to do a true cantilever out from the wall since it would be easier to clean but the strength of the wall is questionable. It’s strong enough to support the back so there are no legs there, but not enough to take the rotational force of the weight of the bench.

Did our own upholstery in fake leather. Bench is sided for a typical 22×22 foam pad. Yes, it was a bit rough going into Joanne’s fabric to buy the fabric and the foam. They act like I don’t belong but it made me come up with a new theory about chocolate. Even more than regular stores, they’ve got a superabundance of chocolate at the checkout lines. My guess – it’s pretty fresh too. Is this cliche about women or is that that way it really is?

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Nice sturdy bench, should last at least a year or two with six kids. After a few visits, you will feel right at home in Joanne’s Fabric, but they do not stock good patterns for shop aprons LOL. You have to be careful about doctors advice, mine told me that a rowing machine would be good for me, since the wood workshop did not give me enough exercise. Welcome to Lumberjocks, hope you and your sonenjoy the shop and the fun.

I am wondering why you didn’t just add 2 more legs to the bench? LOL As for chocolate in JoAnn fabrics – I suppose most women do enjoy chocolate. I know I do. :) Also, if you sign up online for JoAnn fabrics they send you coupons- which you will want to use. Many times the coupon is 50 percent off. Not sure if chocolate is included. :)

Also, I come from a family of 8 kids and 2 cousins = 10 kids in a little farmhouse with no central heat. Around the table We always had benches and no chairs. There were 2 old chairs around the farmhouse kitchen table (aka big junky old table with leaves in at all times) for my parents and we kids were not allowed to sit on the chairs – only the benches. This is because we always leaned back on them,, etc. etc. and the chairs would be destroyed in short order. BTW the benches were the study- simple 5 board variety 5+ feet long. Layers and layers of paint (leaded I’m sure…). I often say I wish I had those old benches and that table. I would sell them so fast!!! LOL

-- Homer : "Oh, and how is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."